Lake County Gazette

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Mary Cole, a candidate for the Lake County State’s Attorney position, extended her gratitude to all individuals involved in law enforcement. Her appreciation for law enforcement comes amid her bid for the state’s attorney position, where she aims to bring compassion and accountability to the office.

“I cannot say ‘Thank You’ enough to all the men and women in law enforcement… I completely appreciate you!!!” Cole said on Facebook.

In contrast to her opponent, Eric Rinehart, the current Lake County State’s Attorney, Cole has received attention for her support of law enforcement rather than aligning with anti-police political agendas. Rinehart has been criticized for prioritizing politics over his responsibilities, particularly due to his support for the SAFE-T Act and his reluctance to work with state’s attorneys holding differing political beliefs. The Lake County Republicans issued a press statement urging voters to reject Rinehart’s re-election bid citing his far-left agenda and emphasizing its misalignment with everyday Illinoisans' values according to an August news report from Lake County Gazette.

In November, Cole officially filed her candidacy for the Lake County State’s Attorney position. Throughout the broader Illinois election season, she actively gathered signatures positioning herself as a vocal critic of Rinehart and advocating for a safer future. With experience as a former assistant state’s attorney in Lake County, Cole highlighted her commitment to addressing issues such as low morale and inadequate attorney training within the office according to another news release from Lake County Gazette.

During her campaign for the November 2024 election, Cole emphasized her commitment to addressing issues like low morale and inadequate attorney training in the office. She criticized incumbent Rinehart stating that prosecutions are down, crime is up, and chaos reigns under his leadership. As reported by Lake County Gazette, Cole pledges to "remove the extreme political agendas and bring stability to the State's Attorney's office."